To ask the Minister of Education whether his Department intends to formally mark the European Day on the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

My Department has made the European Day on the ‘Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse’ the subject of the November ‘Message of the Month’ to mark the launch. The ‘Message of the Month’ forms part of the i-Matter programme, which aims to address issues relating to emotional health and wellbeing.

My Department continues to engage with schools to share information and advice on the issue of child sexual exploitation. I recently published my Departments progress report on the CSE Action Plan, following the Marshall Report. In August 15 I issued new guidance for schools on Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) and Drugs Education, this guidance references the recent inquiries into child sexual exploitation and provides an opportunity for schools to play a preventative role by improving awareness amongst staff of the vulnerability factors and current indicators of child sexual exploitation.